GLENDALE, Calif. - DineEquity, Inc., the parent company of restaurant chain Applebee's announced in a statement Thursday that it will close between 105 and 135 restaurants in 2017. The locations of the stores affected have not been released.

DineEquity said in the statement that it had previously expected to close only 40 to 60 restaurants this year.

The closures will be based on several criteria, including franchisee profitability, operational results and meeting the brand’s quality standards.

“We are investing in the empowerment of our brands by improving overall franchisee financial health, closing underperforming restaurants and enhancing the supply chain. We are focusing on operations and elevating the guest experience, whether in our restaurants or off-premise,” Richard J. Dahl, chairman and interim CEO of DineEquity said in the statement. “We believe 2017 will be a transitional year for Applebee's and we are making the necessary investments for overall long-term brand health and expect to see improvement over the next year.”

The Tribune spoke with a member of the management team at the Cullman Applebee's, located at 2106 Cherokee Ave. SW. He stated that he had not heard anything about any closings, saying, "I'm sure we are fine here. We have plenty of business."